Santos: South Bay shoreline project hits milestone

On Sept. 25, I stood alongside our partners and community members at the newly constructed coastal flood protection levee between Alviso Marina County Park and the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge to celebrate a deeply personal milestone: the completion of Reaches 1 through 3 levees of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Phase I Project.

I was born and raised in Alviso. I remember the floods in the 1960s, 80s and 1995 — not just the water but the damage, disruption and fear. That’s why this project isn’t just infrastructure to me — it’s peace of mind for our community.

The two miles of newly constructed levee now stand as a testament to what’s possible when we work together. Valley Water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State Coastal Conservancy and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have shown what partnership looks like. Together, we are progressing toward protecting the residents and businesses north of State Route 237 from the increased risks of flooding and sea level rise.

This milestone reflects our commitment to protecting homes, schools and critical infrastructure from flooding. But beyond the technical achievement, this event celebrated community resilience. It was a moment to learn from the past, listen to the voices that have long called for safeguarding our beautiful shoreline environment and build a safer future in the face of climate change.

I want to thank everyone who stood with us and believed in this project and this community. Your support helped make this day possible. As we look ahead to the next phases of the shoreline project, I remain committed to ensuring that Alviso and North San Jose continue to receive the protection and investment they deserve.

Together, we’re not just building levees. We’re building trust, safety and a legacy of resilience.

Richard Santos represents District 3 on the Valley Water board of directors, which includes the northern areas of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, Alviso, Milpitas and the North San Jose and Berryessa communities.